Superintendent in Wisconsin says students who participate in National School Walkout will face disciplinary measures

Waukesha School District students and faculty who participate in the National School Walkout during class time next month commemorating the Feb. 14 mass shooting at a Florida high school will be considered disruptive and could face disciplinary action, a district email sent Tuesday to parents said.

Superintendent Todd Gray wrote the email to halt the support of "one or more individuals" who are promoting the event locally through Womensmarch.com.

An individual is "advertising that the 'School District of Waukesha' or 'Waukesha Area Schools' are participating or involved. This is not accurate," Gray wrote. "The district is not participating or involved in this event. We have requested the individual cease using our district name or referring to our district for this event."

The posting could not be easily found on the website.

Disciplinary measures

"Participation in a walkout is disruptive and against school regulations and will subject students to disciplinary measures," Gray wrote.

The walkout is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 14 in all time zones. It calls for students, faculty, parents and others to walk out of school for 17 minutes, one minute for each person killed in the Florida shooting.

It will be followed by a March for Our Lives on March 24 in Washington, D.C. The events are meant as an expression of frustration at the current state of violence in the country.

The email drew a quick response from local author and writing instructor Kathie Georgio.

Parent response

On her Facebook page, Georgio wrote, "So, the superintendent of Waukesha schools, Todd Gray, sent out an email this afternoon, informing parents that the school district is not participating in a school walkout against guns in the schools.

"I personally will support my daughter in whatever she decides is right for her."

Giorgio's 17-year-old daughter attends Waukesha North High School.

"Rather than just saying no, it would be nice (and admirable) if the school found a way that the kids who want to participate could, within school boundaries," Giorgio wrote. "It's one thing to say no, Superintendent Gray. It's another to provide alternatives and education, as well as empathy and support."

Gray said in his email, "While we certainly understand everyone’s grief and anxiety over the recent tragedy in Florida, using the district’s name without permission to advocate for students to violate school rules (a student walk out) is not appropriate."

No authorization

"The School District of Waukesha has not sponsored or authorized this event nor are any of our district employees or students excused for this event. No district employee or non-district individual has been authorized to include the district or any similar reference to our schools for this event," Gray wrote.

Georgio is the director and founder of AllWriters' Workplace and Workshop in downtown Waukesha.